Patrick Rees
LA Galaxy are close to completing a move for Manchester United’s 36-year-old striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, an exclusive from ESPN has claimed.
The same source adds that the MLS side were keen on acquiring the former Sweden international last summer but the deal failed to go through after he suffered a knee injury in April 2017. Making a surprise comeback earlier than expected, Ibrahimovic even appeared in 7 games for Manchester United before eventually sustaining another setback which has kept him out of action for the entire month of January.
The 36-year-old, however, is expected to be back in training next week and with that being done, a move could well be on the cards. The American and Chinese transfer window open in February and so there are high chances that Ibrahimovic might really make a move, just like how Bastian Schweinsteiger who moved to Chicago Fire last January. However, if he indeed makes a move, it will be interesting to see whether the MLS side will match his wages or not.
Practically, it is hard to see Ibrahimovic taking the first team mantle ahead of Romelu Lukaku or even Marcus Rashford simply because he has lost his pace. The technique will always be there, but let’s face it, the arrival of Alexis Sanchez has made it even more difficult for Ibrahimovic to get into the first team. Furthermore, as far as the deal with LA Galaxy is concerned, ESPN has already confirmed that it is “the furthest along it has ever been”.
As things stand right now, Sanchez’s signing has allowed Mourinho to use Marcus Rashford as a No.9 in Lukaku’s absence and he did the same in United’s 4-0 win over Yeovil Town over the weekend. However, despite all these speculations, manager Jose Mourinho, earlier this month, clearly denied the fact that Ibrahimovic would leave United this season, simply because United still have three major honours to compete for.
“Zlatan knows that, at the highest level, he is in the last part of his career,” said Mourinho, according to Sky Sports. “But his dream, his desire, his fight was always to end his career at Manchester United, being useful for me, being useful for the team. That I think he can [achieve].
“He just needs to feel really happy with his knee, with his condition, and that I think he can.
“As a leader in the dressing room, as a leader on the pitch – he is a quality player on the pitch, he can do that and I think he deserves that. I am here also to try and help him do that.”
What’s your opinion? Do you think Zlatan Ibrahimovic should stay with us now that we have signed Alexis Sanchez?
